Celebrating the great Canadian game. Tracking the NHL, the Canadian teams and a lot more!

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Nod to the North in the battle of Alberta

The Battle of Alberta revved up the engines once again and Edmonton claimed bragging rights for Friday night, with a 2-1 win over provincial rival Calgary. The Oilers depended on some stellar goaltending from Mike Morrison, who made 27 saves in the overtime showdown that went to extra shooters before victory was declared for the Oilers.

The sold out crowd at the Pengrowth Saddle dome sat through an enjoyable 60 minutes plus, with some back and forth hockey, highlighted by the goaltending strengths of the two players in the nets.

Fernando Pisani scored the winning marker with a shot between the legs of Mikka Kiprusoff. the Flames then sent Chuck Kobasew to take the final shot of the night which was turned aside by the very hot Morrison. His record in the Oiler net now stands at a perfect 4-0-0.

The win continued Edmonton's successful stretch, having won five of their last six games, good for a record of 14-10-1. Calgary takes a point and sport a record of 14-8-3 holding down fifth place in the very tightly contested Western Conference. Edmonton is sitting at 7th place only five points separating them and Detroit in first.

The West is a very competitive conference this season, a loss or even a tie could make the difference in positioning by the time the playoffs roll around in April. It seems that almost every game can change the order of the standings, sometimes two or three times in a night.